Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company News Letter / Fund Drive
Please support our Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company with a generous donation.
Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Company
News Letter / Fund Drive
Your 2016 donations enabled the community to obtain 5 AED’s and certify 75 residents in CPR . We now have Medical Direction from Glens Falls Hospital, for the community AED that is mounted on the caddie shack at the Huletts Golf Course. Our newly acquired Stair Chair has already been used 3 times in medical responses. Firemen are now being given additional video training at our fire house. An ice rescue pole, extending to 60 feet, has been added to our rescue and fire fighting equipment.
Huletts Fire Co.hosted a successful mutual aid fire drill on Lands End Road, with fire companies from Putnam, Dresden and Whitehall. From a drafting site on Chase Road, 6 tanker trucks supplied 3 portable ponds with water. Our Engine #371, flowed a consistent 800 gallons per minute.
Additionally, the Huletts Fire Co. participated in a mutual aid drill with Dresden, Putnam, Ticonderoga at Chilson Hill on Rt 22 by the Ticonderoga town line.
Huletts responded to a house fire on top of the mountain, establishing a tanker shuttle refill site at the beaver pond. Huletts firemen manned the site with our tanker for 9 1/2 hours.
5 of our firemen have received their Ice Rescue Certificates from Whitehall, for a class taken with State Forest Rangers and the West Fort Ann Fire Dept.
We are proud to report that Dresden and Putnam have both requested that Huletts be added as part of their automatic mutual aid response plan. This is due to the continued dedicated efforts and training of our volunteers.
Please, take time to congratulate our new firemen, Rich Hunter, Mark Kenyon, Pat Bradley, David Floyd, Chris Hansen, Tom Conrad and JonCarl Smith. Their service to the community is appreciated.
The annual Open House will be held on Saturday, August 5th from 2 pm to 4 pm. Details will be posted on the Town Crier boards.
The annual Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 2nd at 5:30pm (RSVP to Nita Smith (518) 499-1099 and Lee Storms (518) 499-1129) Gail Vander Plaat will be accepting donation of items for the raffle events.
Please see the other side of this letter for helpful information on 911 calls.
Please continue your support of this volunteer community service. Your donations can be mailed to HLVFC, P.O. Box 59, Huletts Landing, NY 12841
Respectfully,
Jay Vander Plaat
Understanding a 911 Call
All 911 calls are answered by the Washington County Communications Center in Fort Edward and dispatched accordingly.
MEDICAL CALLS
Our CFRs* and EMTs** respond in their personal cars, Our fire engine responds with more medical and first aid equipment, Our fireman take positions so that they can direct the ambulance from our fire house to your home. Your fire department stands by to assist in patient transport to the ambulance because a ambulance responds with only 2 people. County control starts the search for an ambulance based on availability Skenesborough, Fort Ann, Granville, Ticonderoga, Fair Haven or Poultney, VT. A ambulance may be diverted from a low priority call to a higher one.
Calling 911 should come with the understanding that you are requesting emergency transportation by ambulance under the care of a EMT and Paramedic for Hospital Emergency Room care.
FIRE CALLS
The fire whistle, pagers, email and text messages are activated for Huletts, Dresden, Whitehall and Putnam. Huletts rolls out 3 trucks, Dresden rolls 4 and all hands, Whitehall rolls 2 plus 12 men and Putnam rolls 1 plus 6 men. 10 fire engines from 4 departments and all available man power responding. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A STREET ADDRESS. Please make sure your guests or renters know the information.
* Certified First Responder **Emergency Medical Technician
Results from the School District Election
The vote totals from yesterday’s school district election:
Proposition 1 – Budget Proposition
Yes – 214
No – 50
Proposition 2 – Bus Proposition
Yes – 207
No – 54
Board Of Education Election (Top 5 candidates)
4 year seat for Jeremy Putorti – Resigned (immediate start) – Chris Dudley* 232 votes
3 year seat (July 1 start) – Richard LaChappelle* – 225 votes
3 year seat (July 1 start) – James Brooks* 208 votes
2 year seat for Tony Scrimo – Deceased (immediate start) – Jason Hoagland* 147 votes
2 year seat for Amy Austin – Resigned (immediate start) – (TIE) Michelle Redmond & Roxanne Waters 140 votes
TIE to be determined by special election
Virginia Rivette – 117 votes
*Winner
LGLC Offers Chance to Fly During 5th Annual Lake George Hike-A-Thon
Helicopter stopping for photo at Amy’s Park in 2016. © Sarah Hoffman(Click image to see full-scale.)
The Lake George Land Conservancy is now taking entries for its annual giveaway of a helicopter ride during the Lake George Hike-A-Thon on July 5, 2017. One lucky winner will be awarded the exclusive opportunity to enjoy the event from the air, and get a birds-eye view of the entire Lake George watershed.
The helicopter is one of the main elements of the Lake George Land Conservancy’s (LGLC) flagship annual event that makes it unique. Piloted by Bruce Mowery of North Country HeliFlite, the 4-passenger helicopter circles the lake, stopping along the way for photographer Carl Heilman, II, to snap pictures of groups of hikers and paddlers participating in the event. The highly choreographed flight takes about 1-1/2 hours.
“Bruce and Carl have been amazing partners in the Hike-A-Thon since we first came up with the idea in 2013,” said Sarah Hoffman, the LGLC’s communications and outreach manager, and organizer of the Hike-A-Thon. “The helicopter becomes a thread that joins all of the groups, reinforcing the fact that we are all in this together—no matter how separated we seem, between Lake George Village and Ticonderoga, we all want to see the lake protected.”
After organizing the first Lake George Hike-A-Thon in 2013 as a celebration of the LGLC’s 25th anniversary, the event has continued each year since to showcase the LGLC’s parks and preserves as free public resources, and to promote an appreciation for the outdoors and for the protection of the land that protects the lake.
The Hike-A-Thon is free to participate, and features simultaneous hikes (and a paddle, added in 2016) every July 5th. It’s grown from nine locations, or “sites,” in 2013, to 18 this year. New for 2017 is the addition of Partner Sites, which includes YMCA Camp Chingachgook in Fort Ann, the Charles R. Wood Nature Park in Lake George, and Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center in Bolton. The Silver Bay YMCA is also participating by coordinating a hike with their members.
“I think it’s especially nice to include our partners around the lake,” said Hoffman, “and judging from the response we’ve gotten so far, our participants also like having these new destinations, some of which are usually off-limits to the public.”
The LGLC reports a record number of registrations so far. In the two-month Early Bird registration period, which ended April 30, more than 500 individuals signed up, 100 more than that time last year. Another 65 people have signed up as volunteers to help lead hikes and work check-in stations.
About half of those who registered participated in a past Hike-A-Thon; about a quarter said they heard about it from a friend or family member.
“The event has a loyal following,” said Hoffman, “and those who know about certain sites, and how quickly they fill up, know to register as early as possible if they want to get in. We had 51 registrations in just the first week!”
All of the sites offered for the event have limitations on the number of people they can hold, based on trail or parking capacity, and safety. As of early May, all but five sites have filled. The remaining sites include Amy’s Park in Bolton Landing, Peggy’s Point in Hague, Cook Mountain in Ticonderoga, and the Charles R. Wood Nature Park in Lake George.
Both Peggy’s Point and the Wood Park are accessible sites that are ideal for young kids and those with reduced mobility. Peggy’s Point is also being organized as a dog park for the day, and will have special activities and treats geared towards dogs and their owners.
The LGLC is also still seeking Hike-A-Thon volunteers to help lead hikes and, especially, for staffing check-in stations. Further information is available at https://lakegeorgehikeathon.org/volunteer/.
The 2017 Hike-A-Thon is made possible thanks to the generosity of its sponsors, including the Lake George Mirror, as the event’s media sponsor, Carl Heilman, II/Wild Visions, Inc.; Bruce Mowery of North Country Heliflite; Town of Bolton; Adirodack Flag; Candlelight Cottages; Lake George Kayak Co.; Lake George RV Park; Victoria Ragucci, CPA; Camp David in Bolton Landing; Cottrell Dental; Hudson Headwaters Health Network; StoredTech; and Trampoline Design.
JUST Beverages is providing bottled water for the event, and about a dozen of its employees are also participating in the Hike-A-Thon. Cedar Graphics is donating printing screens for the shirts, and Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company has donated a $100 gift card that will be awarded to one lucky participant after the event in a random drawing.
To enter the helicopter ride giveaway, go to https://lakegeorgehikeathon.org/2017drawing. No donation required to enter; one entry per household. Complete giveaway rules at http://lakegeorgehikeathon.org/giveaway-rules/.
To register for the Hike-A-Thon and for more information visit https://lakegeorgehikeathon.org/, or contact Sarah Hoffman at 518-644-9673, or email shoffman@lglc.org.
Interview with Michele Redmond, School Board Candidate
Below, I post a candidate interview with Michele Redmond, candidate for the school board. She is one of seven candidates running for five seats on the Whitehall School Board. Voting is Tuesday, May 16th. I mailed candidate questionnaires to all those running in this year’s election and will post their responses in the order received. Below are my questions and Ms. Redmond’’s responses.
1.) Could you please tell us about yourself and why you are running for the school board?
I was raised in Whitehall and currently live here with my husband and two children. I am a Registered Nurse and a Nationally Certified Diabetes Educator. I am very interested in the education that our students are receiving. Although I have already had one child graduate from Whitehall Jr. Sr. High School and I currently have a child in the ninth grade, I want to be directly involved in decisions that are being made that will ultimately benefit ALL the students at Whitehall Central School.
2.) The Whitehall school district has consistently been ranked in the lower half of Washington County school districts based on standardized test scores. What will you do to increase the test scores?
I would suggest that the school board members work closely with the Superintendent to develop a committee that will collaborate with local school districts that excel on these standardized tests.
3.) Many of the students educated in the Whitehall school district talk about leaving Whitehall once they graduate and going elsewhere to look for work. Does the school board have a responsibility to cut spending to make the local taxing climate more receptive to jobs and growth?
I don’t know that cutting spending is the answer, but being fiscally responsible is important. What might be a better option would be to create job shadowing/internship opportunities for our students with local businesses. I’m sure that many students, and community members, have no idea the many different job opportunities that are available in our area. Through this program, we many encourage our graduates to stay in Whitehall, or return to Whitehall in the future. Who knows, our graduates might open their own businesses and create more job opportunities in the future.
4.) The job market today is a highly competitive one. Should the school district be doing something that it is not already doing or should it be offering additional classes to see that its graduates have the skills and education necessary for success?
Whitehall Central School District has been offering college level classes through SUNY Adirondack for several years. Starting in the fall of 2017, they will be offering additional advanced classes in Science, Math and Business.
5.) Health insurance costs are increasing by 10.5 percent this year. What can realistically be done to keep this cost from rising so fast?
Whitehall Central School joined the BOCES consortium so that they could benefit from the best negotiated health insurance rate. The 10.5% increase is the rate that all schools in the consortium face this fall. Healthcare is expensive and until it is fixed on the national level, it is the reality that every employer faces.
6.) What is the biggest issue that children face today and what can the school board do to address it?
I turned to my children for their input on this question. One of their biggest concerns is that there is so much material that needs to be covered to prepare them for Common Core and Regents testing that students sometimes haven’t fully grasped a concept before they have to move on to the next concept. If a student doesn’t have a good grasp on the material before having to move on, they are more apt to do poorly. Perhaps the school board needs to take this perspective into consideration.
Editors Note: I would like to thank Ms. Redmond for her answers to my questions. I will post the other candidate’s responses in the order I receive them.
Whitehall School Board: March & April Meeting Minutes
The minutes for the March and April school board meeting of the Whitehall Central School district are posted below.
April Dresden Town Board Meeting Minutes
The minutes from the April 2017 Dresden Town Board meeting were recently approved and have been posted on the town’s website.
The May minutes will not be approved until June and so on.
Dresden to Install New Veterans Memorial Sign
On May 28th, the Town of Dresden will have a commemoration of our new Veterans memorial sign. The event will take place at noon at the Town Hall with the American Legion performing the service. The new sign includes all known Dresden veterans from the Revolutionary War until the present. ALL ARE INVITED to help remember our veterans.
Times Union Link: Alexander West Convicted of Lake George Boat Crash
NBC Sports Video: 143rd Kentucky Derby
School Board Election & Budget Vote: May 16th
Voting for five open seats on the school board, adoption of the annual school budget and a school bus purchase resolution will take place on Tuesday, May 16th between 12:00 noon and 9:00 pm at the Gymnasium of the Junior-Senior high school building on Buckley Road in Whitehall.
Under the proposed budget the school district is proposing to increase spending by $602,383 which represents an increase of 3.92 percent from this year. The tax levy is expected to rise 2.51 percent or $133,267 with the remainder coming from increases in state taxes.
Voters will also be asked to approve the purchase of two school buses, not to exceed the cost of $220,000.
I expect to be sending out questionnaires to all the candidates running for the school board in the next few days.
A public hearing will be held on Monday, May 8th at 6:00 pm for those with questions concerning the budget and/or vote.
LGLC Receives Grant for Land and Water Protection
Photo of beaver pond in Putnam; its protection has been supported by the Conservation Partnership Program grant awarded to the LGLC.
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the 2017 Conservation Partnership Program, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Land Trust Alliance. The LGLC was one of 58 nonprofit land trusts across New York State to receive grants, totaling $1.8 million.
The grant funds will be used towards the cost of protecting a 72-acre beaver pond in Putnam, purchased by the LGLC in 2016. The property’s extensive wetlands are crucial for protecting the water quality of Lake George as well as provide high quality habitat for wildlife and migratory avian species. This land is also part of the LGLC’s overall plan to expand the existing trail system to connect the Gull Bay Preserve and Last Great Shoreline to the Anthony’s Nose Preserve and beyond.
“We are once again grateful to the Land Trust Alliance and the DEC for supporting our efforts to protect Lake George through the Conservation Partnership Program,” said LGLC Executive Director Jamie Brown. “Protecting ponds and wetlands such as these in Putnam are crucial to protecting the renowned waters of Lake George clean and beautiful.”
Fort Ticonderoga 2017 Season Begins Saturday, May 6th
Spend the day at Fort Ticonderoga, rain or shine May 6-October 29. Special events and programs are offered throughout the year. (Photo Credit: Copyright Fort Ticonderoga, Photographer: Carl Heilman II)
Experience Fort Ticonderoga on land and water during the 2017 season, beginning on Saturday, May 6. Fort Ticonderoga is a historic site, museum, and family destination that encourages visitors to build their perfect adventure in America’s most historic landscape. Every day is an event at Fort Ticonderoga and every year is a new experience. It is the only site in the world that tells a new story each year through dynamic historical interpretation. This year is 1757, the year made famous by the novel “Last of the Mohicans.” Visitors will discover the real story of 1757 as they step into Fort Carillon (later named Ticonderoga) bustling with activity with French soldiers, native warriors, and cannon preparing to take the fight for New France all the way up Lake George to British-held territory.
The daily experience will bring to life this epic story through new programs and museum exhibits, living history weekends, special events, breathtaking gardens, daily boat tours aboard M/V Carillon, Mount Defiance, hands-on family activities, hiking trails, and more!
“Fort Ticonderoga is a must-see destination, a center of learning, and an interactive, multi-faceted experience,” said Beth Hill, President and CEO. “It’s exploring the beautiful gardens, finding adventure in our events, marching with the Fife and Drum Corps, and learning about a historic trade. It’s a visit through the reconstructed fort, a stroll overlooking Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont, and an afternoon in our exhibit galleries exploring our premier collections. Fort Ticonderoga is the one place in America that tells the complex international story of the origins of the nation’s military and its role in the founding of the United States.”
Fort Ticonderoga is open daily from May 6 through October 29, 2017 from 9:30 am until 5:00 pm. Special events and programs are offered throughout the year. General admission tickets can be purchased online at www.fortticonderoga.org or on site at the admissions booth upon entry. Members of Fort Ticonderoga and Ticonderoga Resident Ambassador Pass holders are admitted free of charge. Combination tickets for admission and Carillon boat cruises are available. Two-day admission tickets are available at a discounted rate.
Seven Candidates to Run for Five School Board Seats
Seven candidates have filed to run for the five school board seats up for election this year in the Whitehall Central School District. Those candidates are:
James Brooks
Chris Dudley
Jason Hoagland
Richard LaChappelle
Michele Redmond
Virginia Rivette
Roxanne Waters
More to come.